New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art will start charging a mandatory entrance fee for out of state visitors.
A $25 ticket price for adults, $17 for seniors and $12 for students takes effect on March 1, 2018.
The museum will remain free for all children under age 12 years.
It replaces the long-time ‘suggested admission fee’ donation of $25.
Chief operating officer Daniel Weiss said 63% paid the suggested fee in 2004 but visitors have got progressively stingy.
Just 17% paid it in full last year.
New Yorkers can still ‘pay what they wish’ as long as they present proof of residency.
"The goal of the policy is to find a better balance for the institution. The current policy has failed," Weiss said.
Visitors to the Met paying the $25 fee will now be able to enter the Met over three consecutive days instead of just one currently.
Other NYC art institutions charge a similar fixed fee including the MoMA and the Guggenheim.
Weiss said the new policy will impact only about 30% of its seven million annual visitors.
"We think that is extraordinary value," he added.
